Charles Sekazuba, a resident of Kinigi in the Northwest of Rwanda, cultivated Irish potatoes but brokers (middlemen) and transporters gave him wrong market information on market prices and benefitted more from his hard earned produce. Yields from his farm were sold without grading, in the most cases as a mixture of good, medium and bad quality which affecting the prices and his revenues negatively. 

Sekazuba in his Irish Potato Garden

This trend continued until he attended commercialization Campaigns by Farm Concern International, FCI under the Rwanda Domestic Markets Programme funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He says, “prior to the intervention by Farm Concern International, Irish potatoes farming in Musanze was commercial but not aligned to market needs. I could not deliver my farm products to the markets and deal with traders. I remember in some agricultural seasons, I could harvest from 1 tonne to 5 tonnes and still not able to sell it because of lack of market information. Back then, I lost potatoes which got rotten due to lack of market information in two consecutive seasons. A trader would come from Kigali and negotiate prices at the farm gate, at which I could give the produce on credit. Later in the day, the trader would inform me that the market price had slumped and therefore he got into loss. I would lose a lot of money. Things changed, however, from the time I started working with FCI; through Village Business Forums and market exposure, I am now familiar with the market dynamics. I get my products worth by being in touch with traders; I access market information on the prices and know what and when they need. I decide which market to supply depending on the quality and amount of my yields. I am grateful and appreciate FCI’s market linkage”.

Charles has been singing the song of Seburo, a trader who was linked to him through Village Business Forums organized by FCI. “I harvest my product knowing that Seburo is ready to come and collect it and pay in cash; no more debts. I can monitor my crops; decide the best period to harvest, get market information and double check the market prices in collaboration with traders from Kigali.” 

Sekazuba says that, “transportation of commodities is now very easy: I do not worry about transportation; I no longer harvest and search transport on my own; Seburo the trader comes with his own transport and pays the agreed price after communicating with other traders in Kigali. Ever since I started working with FCI, my revenue has increased which allowed me to buy 30 are of land. This has raised my savings from USD 500 to between USD 4,500 to USD 5,400 per season.  I am able to cater for my family, carry out my responsibilities and pay for the school fees and medical insurance for my family” he says barely concealing his pride. 

He concludes thus, “I am planning to purchase more land for increased production of Irish potatoes but I will need continued support from FCI particularly more training on business planning and management. Thank you FCI”.

Farmers from Chinthebe village grew Irish potatoes but not for commercial purposes with   an average household planting 0.2 acres. In 2011, Farm Concern International, FCI under the Domestic Markets Regional Programme funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation mobilized Chinthebe village farmers to form Commercial Villages (CV) as part of its Irish potato commercialization intervention. 

Mgwirizano CPG Members selling Irish potatoes to Universal Industries

Chinthebe farmers formed Mgwirizano Commercial Producer Group (CPG) as part of the wider Commercial Village. FCI interventions included training farmers on commercialization and working with them to collectively find markets.  Selling the potato produce to Universal Industries and Limbe Market traders Mgwirizano CPG realized USD3,500 from their potato farms in the year 2011. 

In 2012, they increased the land under cultivation and notwithstanding the erratic rains experienced, the CPG realized USD 8,000 from their produce sales. The CPG widened their Irish potatoes market to Universal Industries and Mlodza border market. Gradually the cultivated acreage has in response to the market demand for Irish potatoes increased. 

In 2013, FCI supported the Commercial Villages to secure market through trader-farmer partnerships and the CPG is expected to realize over USD 11,000 in one planting season. FCI has continued to encourage farmers to use weighing scales when selling Irish potatoes as opposed to the past when they packed their produce in sacks losing between 10 and 20 kgs per bag. This has helped the farmers realize more returns from their produce. 

The lives of farmers from Mgwirizano CPG have changed for the better thanks to FCI’s interventions. Mr. Kaniva, one of the members, realized a record of $1000 from the sale of his Irish potatoes which he used to buy a tea estate. Mr Sawasawa, another member built a 4 bedroomed house from the income realized from Irish potatoes sales. Mgwirizano CPG members have been trained on Irish potato production, post harvest handling, marketing, cost benefit analysis and natural resource management. As a result, income from irish potato has gradually increased and 3000 trees were planted by the Group members to protect the environment.

Mr. Khoswe sells onions and tomatoes and cabbages during peak seasons at Thondwe Market. He could not procure enough volumes until he was linked to Commercial Villages (CVs) by Farm Concern International, FCI under the Domestic Markets Regional Programme funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr Khoswe cherishes the exposure and training on business planning and development by FCI which has enhanced his capacity to procure produce and manage and grow his business.  

Chiyembekezo Khoswe loading his onion at Makawa CV

He sources produce from reliable partners through the Commercial Village Model. Currently he buys up to 5 tons of onion per month from a number of Commercial Villages which is a 100% increase from the 2.5 Tonnes he used to purchase before the intervention. The introduction of onion to Chingale area has helped him reduce transportation cost because it is closer to his selling point. From the volume sourced he makes gross sales of up to K350, 000 (USD1, 000) per month and he has never taken loan from any institution despite the fact that FCI introduced him and other traders to financial Service providers at Thondwe Market Traders.

“Since I started working with FCI, I have built 3 good houses with corrugated iron sheets, cement and burnt bricks” says Mr. Khoswe. “One house with 3 bedrooms is for my Mother, one for my wife’s parents and the third for my family.” 

Mr. Khoswe plans to start a restaurant at Thondwe and has already identified suitable premises. We wish him more success.

Mitengo Felix had been growing maize as staple crop for a long time but had no interest in growing Irish potatoes until he attended commercialization campaigns by Farm Concern International, FCI under the Domestic Markets Regional Programme funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2011 Felix registered with Khasu pasogolo Commercial Producer group (CPG) under the Chisinkha Commercial Village (CV) but he was still sceptical about the success of the irish potato venture and therefore did not cultivate anything.

Felix’s negative attitude towards irish potato farming changed during harvesting season on noticing that those who had cultivated potatoes had no problems marketing their produce and had good returns from their sales. He moved full throttle and cultivated Irish potatoes on 0.5 acres harvesting 1.6 tons which earned him approximately USD 500 from sales. 

He benefitted from teaming up with FCI supported Khasu Pasogolo Commercial Village (CV) who were taught on Good Agricultural Practices, collective action and linked to irish potato traders. He invested part of returns on sales to   procure improved seeds and fertilizers. Since then his production has been on an upward spiral each season due to improved farming practices through training and exposure visits organized by Farm Concern International under the Programme. He has realized a total of USD 5,120 over the last 3 planting seasons. 

Mr. Mitengo and his family are better fed with a balanced diet and he is able to farm throughout the year and sell his produce at good prices.  “I can feed my family throughout the year and I do not hold back when farming, because I am assured of the market,” said Mr. Mitengo. He has diversified into livestock farming and now keeps 3 pigs bought with proceeds from sale of Irish potatoes. 

Felix has doubled the land allocation for Irish potatoes this year and expects to harvest more than 3 tonnes this season. He plans to establish a shop on a plot of land he has acquired in order to expand and stabilize his income. Mr. Mitengo’s family farms a small garden where they plant Amaranths and pumpkin leaves for home consumption and his family access a constant supply of vegetables for nutrients. He is optimistic about a future free of poverty and nutrition related diseases.